Chapter 333: Testing Xie Shi'an
The cold wind howled.
Xie Shi'an had worked up a sweat walking all the way back.
When he reached the Xie family gate, he spotted a carriage parked nearby and immediately recognized it as belonging to the Prince of Pacifying the West Manor.
He instinctively quickened his pace, stepping over the threshold.
He saw Yun Chu standing in the courtyard.
The previously desolate and barren yard seemed much brighter with her presence.
For a moment, he had the illusion that the Xie family was still the same as before.
"Princess Consort."
Xie Shi'an bowed slightly with cupped hands in greeting.
"I won't keep you from your business. I should be going now."
Yun Chu, supported by her maid, began walking out.
"Princess Consort, please wait." Xie Shi'an stopped her. "On such a cold day, and with you being pregnant, you surely didn't just happen to pass by the Xie residence and decided to drop in for no reason?"
Yuan Shi's lips parted in astonishment: "Chu'er, you're pregnant?"
Back then, hadn't the doctor said that Chu'er could never conceive again? After losing her previous child, she hadn't gotten pregnant at all during all those years in the Xie family.
How could she be with child just over half a year after marrying into the prince's manor?
If only Chu'er and Jingyu had had their own legitimate son back then, perhaps the Xie family wouldn't have ended up in its current state?
Yun Chu's face showed embarrassment at being exposed. Pressing her lips together, she said, "I just came to visit, nothing more."
"Princess Consort, you might as well speak plainly." Xie Shi'an glanced at the elderly and young in the courtyard. "Grandmother, please take them inside. I have important matters to discuss with the Princess Consort."
Xie Shiwei opened his mouth to protest, but since his elder brother was now funding his living expenses, he didn't dare offend him. Afraid his brother might treat him as he had treated Xie Shiyun, he reluctantly left.
After the front courtyard emptied, Xie Shi'an finally said, "Princess Consort, please speak."
He didn't believe that Yun Chu, now the Princess Consort of the Pacifying West and pregnant, would voluntarily come to the Xie residence. A remarried woman would never visit her former husband's home without good reason.
Moreover, it must be something important enough that she had to come in person.
"I did come to the Xie residence for a reason." Yun Chu sighed. "But given the Xie family's current situation... I've thought it over and decided to let it go."
Xie Shi'an's fingers twitched slightly.
Just as he had guessed.
He spoke up: "We were once mother and son. You protected me many times before. Now it's my turn to do something for you. If you give up now, I won't be able to rest easy."
Yun Chu wore a conflicted, hesitant expression for a long time before finally saying, "I came hoping to rely on our former mother-son bond to ask for your help in investigating the Gong Xi Prince's involvement in the imperial examinations. Don't worry, you won't be treated unfairly. Just name your price."
Xie Shi'an's heart sank heavily.
The imperial examinations were the court's primary method for selecting officials and the only path for commoners to rise from the bottom. If there were fraud in the exams, it would be a major blow to imperial authority. Therefore, the Emperor would never allow such a thing to happen. If it did occur, those involved would be severely punished as a warning to others!
The Gong Xi Prince was actually involved in this?
If the Prince of Pacifying the West investigated and reported this, the Gong Xi Prince would likely...Xie Shi'an's mind was a whirlwind of thoughts, yet his expression remained composed: "It is my honor to serve the Princess Consort; how could I possibly accept monetary compensation. If Prince Gongxi is truly involved in the imperial examination fraud, it would be a grave injustice to impoverished scholars like those from my Xie family. Countless students who have endured years of diligent study would see their efforts go to waste... I must uncover the truth, not only to assist the Princess Consort but also to seek justice for all underprivileged scholars!"
"Excellent!" Yun Chu's eyes shone with admiration. "I knew I wasn't mistaken about you. Beneath it all, you remain that principled young man."
Xie Shi'an felt momentarily dazed.
After Yun Chu departed, he stood in the courtyard for a long while.
Only when light snow began to fall from the sky, dusting his shoulders, did he snap out of his reverie.
He stepped out of the Xie residence, and San Jiu, his attendant, immediately followed: "Where is the young master headed?"
Xie Shi'an went directly to the entrance of the Gongxi Royal Mansion.
As a counselor to the royal mansion, he came daily to attend to affairs and entered directly through the side gate.
He proceeded to Prince Gongxi's study courtyard and, after being announced, entered with bowed head: "Your humble servant pays respects to Your Highness."
Prince Gongxi Chu Mo, seeing him arrive at the mansion at this hour, knew something significant must have occurred and urged him to speak quickly.
"This humble one has just met with the Princess Consort of the Pacifying West," Xie Shi'an raised his head. "Through my probing, I learned that Prince Pingxi is investigating whether there has been fraud in past imperial examinations and suspects the Gongxi Royal Mansion's involvement."
"What did you say?!"
Chu Mo sprang to his feet.
Xie Shi'an's fingers tightened imperceptibly—Prince Gongxi was indeed involved.
If this were uncovered and the Gongxi Royal Mansion fell, he would once again have nowhere to go.
Fortunately, he had made the right choice.
Betraying Yun Chu in exchange for Prince Gongxi's trust—why not take the opportunity?
"We handled everything so thoroughly, how could..." Chu Mo paced back and forth. "Someone must have leaked information. Damn it, I always said only the dead keep secrets. We should have... Guards!"
His cold shout brought guards rushing in from outside.
"Dispatch men to eliminate these individuals..." Chu Mo's eyes held a ruthless gleam. "Do it discreetly."
"Yes, Your Highness!"
Chu Yi had long stationed people to monitor the Gongxi Royal Mansion.
Naturally, he learned of the developments there.
"Chu'er, it is just as you predicted," Chu Yi's gaze turned profound. "My second elder brother is truly audacious, daring to meddle even with the imperial examinations."
Throughout history, those involved in imperial examination fraud—even imperial princes or grandsons—faced severe punishment, leaving no room for criticism among the scholarly community.
After all, the scholar's brush could sometimes prove more dangerous than a soldier's spear. No ruler would willingly offend the literati, let alone thousands of them.
As long as they obtained witnesses and evidence, his second elder brother would likely meet his end.
"The more he acts, the better. Our concern would be his inaction," Yun Chu leaned against the man's chest. "This year's metropolitan examination just concluded. Who knows how many scholars lost their chance at the palace examination because of this."
Nor could they guess how many of Prince Gongxi's allies had been placed in court positions through this scheme.
"Rest assured, your husband will investigate this thoroughly," Chu Yi held her close. "I have a small request, Chu'er. Will you hear me out?"
Before he could voice it, Yun Chu guessed: "Don't worry, I won't visit the Xie residence again."Though she had long known Xie Shi'an to be a selfish and cold-hearted man, she never expected he would betray her so decisively—no sooner had she left the Xie residence than he went to the Gongxi Royal Mansion to sell her out.
She had relied on his selfishness.
Yet that same selfishness now sent chills down her spine.
Once the Gongxi Prince fell from power,
Xie Shi'an would have no one left to lean on.
Over the following days, Chu Yi buried himself in reviewing case files and locating witnesses...
Meanwhile, Yun Chu ate and slept, slept and ate, visibly plumping up until she grew pleasantly rounded like a polished pearl.
In the blink of an eye, the twenty-third day of the twelfth lunar month arrived—the twins' birthday. The children were now a full six years old, but by the traditional counting method (adding one year for heaven and one for earth), their nominal age was eight.
After celebrating their birthday at home, Yun Chu sent the children to the palace the next day to spend time with Yin Fei.
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